The Washington critic., 1887-01-29

even been united. But there wasn't
notbin there but printers INK. But
the rags-ob, Hosea, wouldn't know
the man with the string of bells and
The ag-wagon from Jobl And
where lie went and where he came
from, the good Lord only knowsv
81 reckon you'll find that house.
cleanin' came pretty expensive said
Mr.. Martin, dryly.
All search proved unavailing. Moth
ing could be discovered of gran lma's
money, no scrap of paper TO afford
clew, no hidden hoard, not even word
of allusion to II, In the old lady's neatly
kept memorandum book. And TO Ma
iilda's exquisite modification, Mr..
Rufus Burton, after decent period of
time had elapsed, delicately gave her to
understand that he didn't feel able to
marry at present, and that, sooner than
bind her by the trammels of u long en-
gagomcni, he considered 1t better to re.
lease her from her iroth
Just as you please" said Matte
Martin, with true New England spirit.
And all the tears she shed were wept In
secret, 10 the great disappointment of
the neighborhood, who were looking
iNl WIN HOIlt lllltltol W blc IL ltW-
tilda Martin would pine any, now that
Rufe Burton had mittened her"
But she didn't. Instead of that she
married Alva Dean, who had always
loved her from child.
II aint college learned like Rufe
Burton" said he; "but l love you,
Matty, and I'll be good and true hus.
band to you, see If aint."
And the ncwly.wedded couple came
10 live with the Martins at the old
homestead, for Hosea was getting old
and rheumatic, and Mrs. Martin could
not bear the idea Of parting from her
only daughter.
Time Crept by, Hosea Martin and his
wife grew TO be whi,c-haired old
people, and Alva Dean had prospered
on the farm, and built a new barn up
on the hill, when one day he said to
his cherry checked wife:
Didn't there used TO be an old well
up somewhere near the big butternut
tree, Mat,y, at the south side of the
barn -
"Of course" nodded Ma,ly. But
the curb rotted away, and mother
thought 1t unsafe. So after the new
well by the house was dug, they filed
1t up.
ave notion to open It again, said
Alva. "The water would be dreadful
handy, now that we keep all the cattle
there"
But" said Ma,ty, Il seem to recol.
lcct that It run dry after the new one
was dug"
81 guess we can strike water If we 90
deep enough" said Alva. Anyhow
mean to try
The old well was reopened-although
Alva Dean remarked with groan,
that all the old trash in creation seemed
TO have been poked away there.
Bottles" said he, land broken
nosed pitchers, and tin cans. half
rusted away, and cobble stones, and
| goodness knows what all. Enough TO
set up II junk shop with"
"Ah," said Matty, with smile,
"mother filed 1t up the same spring
that she sold grandmother money to
| the rag peddler that never came
around again, at a cent and ahalf a
pound"
mo use cryin' over split milk, my
girl" said Alva, bravely.
But Pm not crying" said Matilda;
"I'm laughing. Don you sec?"
| Just then In came little Bcss, the
youngest. golden'haired darling of the
flock.
"Oh. mamma" she cried, "look at
the lovely old cracked stone jug that
came out of the old well. Mayn't me
and Fanny have 1t to fix liquorice.
water and strawberry wine in? Look
The cork is sticking tight in it yet.
| But it's cracked down the side,
dear" demonstrated Mrs. Dean.
But we can putty 1t, mamma, like
MIS-. Butchers best china bowl Please,
mamma, may WEI" urged the mite.
Mrs. Dean took 1t up and looked
curiously atit-an old, high shouldered
| jug of drab, with sprawling pattern
of blue dashed down the side.
IL remember il well, " said she. 1T
used to stand behind Grandma Mar
tins battery shelf. used 10 fancy
the pattern was like blue crab. And
| We"
"Oh, mamma !" cried Bess, with a
shrek. "Oh, mamma !"
For the handle had slipped through
Mrs. Deans fingers, and the jug fel
with crash TO the ground.
But the stOneware was strong, and II
separated In two pieces, following the
line of the crack,
"lts stuffed full of funny bits oil
brown paper, cried Bess.
Mrs. Dean gave little scream, and
grew very pale.
Grandmother money! she cried
"As true as you live and breathe
mother" to Mrs. Martin, who hat
come limping in upon her cruth, cit
grandmother money, put there tel
good years ago."
most at the top of the other debris, ha(
kept its treasure dry and safe; ana here
ten years after the old lady was deat
and entombed, her secret hoard-al
ways intended for Matilda-had com,
TO light.
A thousand dollars. Not great sum
perhaps, but wealth to these primitiv,
people. And Rufus Burton, who hat
married q pretty shrew and Just failed
in the grocery business, groaned owe
what might have BEEN" and Alvi
Dean kissed his wife, and blessed Goo
in his heart, and Farmer Martin
chuckled at his ancient helpmeet, ant
remarked, with something Of his wag
gishness
"That house. cleanin' of yours lik,
to have cost ye thousand dollars
IIetty p
| While Matilda said, softly
Heaven bless the dear old grand
mother !"
The Napidi;y OF Progress Towar'